Two women held in Shannon case

Police investigating the alleged abduction of Shannon Matthews have arrested two more members of the Meehan family.

A 25-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, while a 49-year old woman was being questioned on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The West Yorkshire force said the arrests were made by detectives earlier today.

Shannon went missing in Dewsbury on February 19th.

She was discovered in the base of a bed at an address in Batley Carr, just one mile from her home, after a dramatic 24-day police search.

Shannon vanished while coming home from a school swimming trip.

West Yorkshire Police mounted a huge investigation involving hundreds of officers and a team of 60 detectives in an attempt to find her.

Michael Donovan, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, was arrested on March 14 after the youngster was found at his flat.

Donovan, 39, has been charged with Shannon's kidnap and imprisonment.

His trial has been provisionally set for November 11 at Leeds Crown Court.

Donovan, formerly known as Paul Drake, is the uncle of Shannon's stepfather, Craig Meehan.

Meehan, 22, yesterday appeared at Dewsbury Magistrates' Court charged with 11 counts of possessing indecent images of children.

He was remanded in custody to appear again before the same court on April 11.

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